Stool or table



R. E. WATSON STOOL OR TABLE Jan. 25, 1966 Filed March 18, 1963 f R.0 5%y M V r M P T A E W s m f W6 United States Patent 3,230,909 STOOL ORTABLE Robert E. Watson, Farmington, Mich., assignor to Swedish CrucibleSteel Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Mar. 18,1963, Ser. No. 265,719 8 Claims. (Cl. 108-150) This invention relates toseating devices and, in particular, to stools.

One object of this invention is to provide a stool or low table composedof upper and lower halves which are basically identical in constructionso that the same part can be used for both halves, the two halves beingof tapered construction and united at their smaller diameter ends, witha top member or cover secured to the large diameter end of the upperhalf.

Another object is to provide a stool of the foregoing character whereinthe lower half is provided with feet which are inserted in the sameholes provided for reception of the cover fasteners in the upper half.

Another object is to provide a stool of the foregoing character whereinthe small diameter ends of the two halves have interlocking portionswhich interfit with one another so as to prevent relative rotationthere-between and at the same time strengthen the connectiontherebetween.

Another object is to provide a stool, as set forth in the objectimmediately preceding wherein the two halves are united to one anotherby a single bolt or other fastener passing through a central hole havingon the inner side a counterbore which in one half receives the head ofthe bolt and in the other half receives the nut thereof.

Another object is to provide a stool as set forth in the objectimmediately preceding wherein the interfitting portions are surroundedby a groove containing an annular member, such as a sleeve, which notonly conceals the junction between the halves but also furtherstrengthens the connection between the halves.

Another object is to provide a stool of the foregoing character whereinthe upper and lower halves are easily and inexpensively made by moldingthem from plastic material, a single mold suificing for making both theupper and lower halves.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description of the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a central vertical section through a stool or tableaccording to one form of the invention, taken along the line 1--1 inFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the stool or table shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the stool or table shown in FIGURES 1and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale, taken along the line4-4 in FIGURE 1, showing the interlocking connection between the upperand lower halves; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of which the stoolor table of FIGURES l to 4 inclusive is composed.

Referring to the drawing in detail, FIGURES 1 to 5 inclusive show astool or table, generally designated 10, according to one form of theinvention as including a lower half unit 12, an upper half unit 14 ofidentical construction to the lower half unit 12, a connecting fasteneror bolt 16, a coupling sleeve 18 and a top or cover 20. The lower andupper half units 12 and 14 are each of tapered or fiared constructionand may be, for example, of the trumpet shape shown in the drawings, orof frustoconical or frusto-pyramidal construction and still be includedwithin the scope of the invention. Each of the 3,23%,9053 Patented Jan.25, 1965 lower and upper halves 12 and 14 has a large-diameter annularthickened rim portion 22 with a flat outer surface 24 includingcircumferentially-spaced widened portions or bosses 26, each containinga blind hole or socket 28.

Each of the half units 12 and 14 also has a small diameter end wall 30provided with an annular half groove or rabbet 32 which receives half ofthe coupling sleeve 18. Projecting axially from each end wall 30 are twoopposed circumferentially-spaced sector-shaped lugs 34 (FIGURE 5 withfiat top surfaces 36 and sector-shaped flat recessed surface portions 38separated from one another by the gap surface 40 and collectivelyforming the outer surface 42 of the end wall 30. The latter contains afastener hole 44 terminating on its inner side in a counterbore 46,preferably of rectangular cross-section. The small diameter end wall 30carrying the lugs 34 is connected to the large diameter outer rim 22 bya tapered side wall 4-8 which in the example shown is trumpet-mouthshaped but which, as stated above, may be conical or pyramidal. Itstapered configuration facilitates both the molding operation andwithdrawal from the mold. The side wall 48 has outer and inner surfacesof revolution 50 and 52 respectively.

Inserted in the blind holes 28 of the rim 22 of the lower half unit 12are the shanks 54 of feet 56 having enlarged heads 58 (FIGURE 5). Thefeet 56 are thus rivet-shaped and are preferably made of rubber, plasticor other suitable material, preferably of' a resilient and soft naturewhich will prevent damage to the fioor or other surface upon which thearticle 14) is placed. The rim 22 of the upper half 14 is provided withpegs 60 conveniently made of plastic material which are secured in theblind holes 28 thereof and project above the fiat surface 24. Restingupon the fiat surface 24 is the corresponding flat lower annular surface62 of the thickened rim 64 of the top or cover 20. The rim 64 of thecover 26 is provided with bosses or enlargements 66 (FIGURE 5) which arealigned with the bosses or enlargements 26 of the upper half unit 14 andwhich contain blind holes or sockets 68 which are also aligned with theblind holes or sockets 2S and fit over the pegs 60. The pegs 66 and theshanks 54 of the feet 56 are secured in their respective holes 28 and 63by any suitable adhesive, many of which are available on the open marketand are well known to those skilled in the plastics art. The fastener 16is of any suitable type, a bolt being shown for purposes of illustrationand having a headed screw portion 70 carrying a nut 72.

In the assembly of the stool or table 1d of the invention, the lower andupper half units 12 and 14 are brought together with their smalldiameter end walls 30 adjacent one another and with the coupling sleeve18 placed in the annular rabbet 32 of the lower half unit 12. The upperhalf unit 14 is then lowered with its lugs 34 aligned with thesector-shaped recesses 38, the sizes of the sectorshaped lugs 34 beingsuch as to interfit snugly with one another. With the upper and lowerhalf units 14 and 12 interfitting at their small diameter ends in themanner shown in FIGURES 1 and 4 and with the coupling sleeve 18encircling their junction, the screw 70 of the bolt 16 is insertedthrough one of the central holes 44 with its head in the counterbore 46thereof and its shank projecting through the hole 44 into thecounterbore 46 in the upper half unit 14. The nut 72 is then threadedupon the projecting portion of the shank of the screw '70, and receivedin the counterbore thereof when it is fully tightened. A square nut 72is preferably used fitting loosely into the square counterbore 46, whichthereby prevents it from rotating while the screw 76 is rotated totighten the bolt 16.

The feet 56 are then secured in the holes 28 of the rim 22 of the lowerhalf unit 12 and the pegs 66 secured in the corresponding holes 28 ofthe thickened rim 22 of the 3 upper half unit 14. The cover or top 20 isthen lowered into the position shown in FIGURE 1, with its holes 66aligned with and fitting over the pegs 60 and secured therein by asuitable adhesive, as stated above. A washer 74 is preferably employedbeneath the nut 72 in order to further prevent rotation of the screw 70.

What I claim is:

1. A stool or table comprising hollow lower and upper half body units oftapered basically identical configuration having identical large andsmall diameter opposite ends,

said half body units being disposed with their small diameter ends inengagement with one another and with their large diameter ends disposedremote from one another, means at said small diameter ends for securingsaid small diameter ends of said halt body units end-toend to oneanother,

and a top member superimposed upon and secured to the large diameter endof the upper half body unit, whereby both lower and upper body halfunits can be produced in a single mold and connected end-toend toconstitute a pedestal of twice the height of either body half unithaving large opposite ends tapering to a small midportion.

2. A stool or table, according to claim 1, wherein the small diameterends of said half body units are provided with annular rabbetscollectively forming an annular recess extending therearound adjacentand extending upward and downward from their junction, and wherein anannular coupling element is disposed in said recess and also extendsupward and downward'from said junction and conceals said junction.

3. A stool or table, according to claim 1, wherein the large diameterends of said half body units are provided with circumferentially-spacedholes of substantially identical sizes and locations, wherein supportingfeet are secured in the holes in the lower half body unit, and whereinfasteners are mounted in the holes in the upper half body unit andsecure said top member thereto.

4. A stool or table, according to claim 1, wherein said small diameterends have circumferentially-spaced projections thereon disposed ininterfitting engagement with one another.

5. A stool or table, comprising lower and upper half body units oftapered substantial- 1y identical configuration having large and smalldiameter opposite ends,

said half body units being disposed with their small diameter ends inengagement with one an other and with their large diameter ends disposedremote from one another,

means at said small diameter ends for securing said half body units toone another,

and a top member superimposed upon and secured to the large diameter endof the upper half body unit,

said small diameter ends having projections thereon disposed ininterfitting engagement with one another, said projections extendingaxially from said small diameter end of said half body units.

6. A stool or table, according to claim 5, wherein said projectionscomprise lugs also extending radially of said small diameter end.

7. A stool or table, according to claim 6, wherein said lugs areapproximately sector-shaped and disposed diametrically opposite oneanother in the small end of each half body unit.

8. A stool or table, according to claim 5, wherein said projections arespaced apart from one another at the central portions of said small endsand wherein said securing means comprises a fastener disposed axially ofsaid half body units in the central space thereof between saidprojections.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,054,812 3/1913Zierath 287-405 1,131,730 3/1915 OConnor l08150 1,207,863 12/1916Chisholm 108-150 1,903,631 4/1933 Morrison 108-150 2,560,659 7/ 1951Payeur 108-150 2,981,578 4/1961 Saarinen l08150 3,083,052 3/1963 Thorson297 FOREIGN PATENTS 138,687 1880 France. 251,490 5/ 1926 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

1. A STOOL OR TABLE COMPRISING HOLLOW LOWER AND UPPER HALF BODY UNITS OFTAPERED BASICALLY IDENTICAL CONFIGURATION HAVING IDENTICAL LARGE ANDSMALL DIAMETER OPPOSITE ENDS, SAID HALF BODY UNITS BEING DISPOSED WITHTHEIR SMALL DIAMETER ENDS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH THEIRLARGE DIAMETER ENDS DISPOSED REMOTE FROM ONE ANOTHER, MEANS AT SAIDSMALL DIAMETER ENDS FOR SECURING SAID SMALL DIAMETER ENDS OF SAID HALFBODY UNITS END-TOEND TO ONE ANOTHER, AND A TOP MEMBER SUPERIMPOSED UPONAND SECURED TO THE LARGE DIAMETER END OF THE UPPER HALF BODY UNIT,WHEREBY BOTH LOWER AND UPPER BODY HALF UNITS CAN BE PRODUCED IN A SINGLEMOLD AND CONNECTED END-TOEND TO CONSTITUTE A PEDESTAL OF TWICE THEHEIGHT OF EITHER BODY HALF UNIT HAVING LARGE OPPOSITE ENDS TAPERING TO ASMALL MIDPORTION.